Fiber conditioning machine



June 28, 1960 A. BOER 2,942,306

FIBER comarrxoumc men-1m:

Filed Dec. 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. W 3

June 28, 1960 A. BOER 2,942,306

' FIBER CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent FIBER CONDITIONING MACHINE Arpad Boer, Buenos Aires, Argentina, assignor to Bancroft-Brillotex International S.A., Montevideo, Uruguay, a corporation of Uruguay The present invention relates to a machine for condi- 4 tioning fibers and more particularly to means for mechanizing the manual opening and plucking of Wool, cotton and other fibers and filaments to prepare them for industrial use with their fibers and filaments substantially parallel and unidirectional. By opening is meant reduction in the density of a mass of fibers and in the entanglement of the fibers, for example, by plucking groups of fibers relative to or out of the mass of fibers, so that the mass is more open in the sense of being'more extended.-

In general, the machine comprises a plurality of pairs of superposed endless belts with the pairs of belts linearly arranged to form a series providing a channel or passage for fiber treatment from one end of the machine to the other. Each belt is mounted on and driven by a set of rolls, successive pairs of belts traveling at increased speeds in such manner as to provide an increasing speed gradient toward the discharge end of the machine. One

rool for each pair of endless belts is provided with circumferentially disposed, laterally staggered grooves extending part way around the roll throughout the working surface of the roll, thereby forming alternating positive ridges and negative depressions, and successive corresponding rolls in the series have these positive and negative rool surfaces of decreasing lateral individual width, thus providing a diminishing size gradient toward the discharge end of the machine. In this manner, the wool or cotton which is being treated is opened up gradually or in portions, as was formerly done by hand, but with the fibers extending in the same direction, namely, the direction of traction. It, if clean or after cleaning, can be indirectly shaped into a rove and, if desired, twisted to form yarns. The thus configured rolls are herein termed active or traction rolls and each such roll has an opposed seating or bearing roll of plain cylindrical form as hereinafter described.

The construction of these traction rolls with positive and negative peripheral portions results from the formation of the grooves as partial arcs, so that the ends of each groove terminate at the beginning of a positive ridge, the sum of the arcs being 180. Since the grooves repeat laterally at regular distances alternating with positive ridge arcs, each such rollis capable of exerting an active traction efiect, during rotation, throughout its length, acting through the endless belt which passes thereover and which belt cooperates with the other endless belt of that pair of belts, the corresponding roll in which is a simple elastic or resilient ungrooved roll. In this manner, as the pair of belts travels over the rolls, the interaction between the active or traction rolls and the ungrooved opposing rolls through the overlying belts forms alternating gripping and releasing actions onthe fibers passing be tween the belts of each pair and being transferred to the successive pair of belts circulating at a higher. speed..

The invention is illustrated in a preferred: embodi 7 2,942,306 Patented June 28, 1960 belts of Fig. 1, the belts being cut away in parts to show the construction of the underlying rolls;

Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of Fig. 1, showing the transfer of fibers between successive pairs of belts and the action of the rolls on the fibers, the positive roll ridge being in active position;

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view similar to Fig. 3, showing'that the negative roll depression does not produce traction on the fibers but leaves them in natural position;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the machine as a whole, and showing, by increasing arrow lengths, the increasing speed gradient of the pairs of belts;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5, portions of the belts being cut away to illustrate the decreasing size gradient of the ridges and grooves.

Referring'in detail to the drawings, a and b are pairs of endless belts linearly arranged, as shown in Fig. 5, to form a series providing a channel or passage 1 for the treatment of the fibers. The belts 'of each set are superposed and mounted on sets of rollers which give them a triangular shape, the successive sets of belts for fiber conditioning being designated 1, 2, 3, etc., and it being understood that any desired number may be provided. 7

Forwardly of the series of pairs of endless belts a and b, there is a set of endless belts c supplied with fibers from the conveyor 0!, the said set of endless belts c constituting the entrance end of the machine for initiating the treatment in the channel 1 through which the fibrous material is conducted for treatment. The conveyor d is formed by the endless belt 2 mounted on the rollers 3 and 4. Each belt of set c has a feed roll 5, a transfer roll 6 and a third roll 7 maintaining the belt in triangular form under proper tension.

The belt a of each set of belts a, b has an operative traction roll a at its forward end, a transfer roll 6 at its rearward end an another roll 7 which shapes the belt into' a triangle and maintains it under proper tension, while belt b of each set a, b is similar to belts c, inasmuch as it is also provided with a roller 5, a transfer roller 6, and a triangular roller 7.

The traction rolls a and their construction constitute the most important part of the present invention since, by means of these specially configured rolls, traction and orientation of the fibers are effectively made possible mechanically or automatically in a manner analogous to that of human hands when wool or other fibers or filaments are opened, plucked and straightened.

Each traction roll a has a plurality of peripheral positive segments 8 alternating with peripheral grooves 9 laterally along the roll. Thus, each traction roll a} presents on its surface a number of arched segments 8 which are separated by the grooves 9, which are also in the form of arcs, the arrangement being such, as will be especially clear from Figs. 1 and 2, that the surface of each roll a has spaced peripheral ridges and grooves along the roll but they are disposed in two groups with a groove completing the periphery at the ends of and in aiiignment with a ridge, and vice versa, giving a staggered e ect.

The are of each segment 8 is one hundred and eighty degrees and .the groove with which it coincides has the same extent. Thus, one groove plus one segment extends completely around the roll and totals 360. The segments 8 constitute the positive or active roll surfaces, and the grooves 9 constitutev depressions or negative surfaces. I e

In this way, when a traction rolla, is. rotated, even though it iscovered by a belt. a, when resting on a line of belt. 5, with a seat on. roller 5,. contact, is obtained with the fibers. 2 only at isolated areas, namely, those areas which, are constituted by the segments 8, because those areas which correspond to the intermediate grooves 9- do not olfer support, and, as a result, if, wool or fibers e are caused to pass, they are gripped only in the portions which correspond to the positive segments 8. As the rotation of a tractionroll a acts to exert tractionon the wool e, this traction occurs only at the fringes 10 of the fibers e, the fringes 11 remaining without pull, but when, as the arrows. in Fig. 1 indicate, the portions 8 end, the grooves 9 present themselves in replacement of the segments 8, whereupon the fiber fringes 10 cease to be pulled, because they coincide with the grooves 9, while the segments 8 which accompany these grooves seize the fringes 1 1, gripping and pulling them. This means that with each half rotation of the traction roll a there occurs traction of the fringes .10 and with the other half rotation of the roll there occurs. traction of the fringes 1 1, achieving an alternation in the action through the circulating movement of the two belts a and b which operate in combination.

As stated above, the traction roll a which with the rolls 6 and 7 maintains the tension of the endless belt a for its circulation in response to the rotation of this traction roll a}, has its operative length superposed over a like length of the endless belt b stretched over' the rolls 5, 6 and 7, so that between these operative lengths of the belts there is formed the channel 1 for the passage of the fibers acted on by these belts. The successive sets of belts a and 'b form the above-mentioned series, as shown in Figs. and 6.

Plain cylindrical roll 5 of each belt b is elastic or'resilient so that it serves as aseat; thus, under the developed pressure, the traction roll a and its belt a can grip the wool or fibers e delivered to it by the rolls 6 of the preceding set of belts.-

Each roll-a in combination with the respective roll 5, forms the admission head of each set of belts a, b, while the rolls 6 are located at the other ends of each pair of belts and serve to transfer the fibers to the next following pair of belts.

The first pair of endless belts a, b receives the wool or fibers from the pair c, c, the belts of which have their rolls 6facing the rolls a and 5 of that firstactive set a, b.

The second pair a, b receives the wool or fibers from the rolls 6, 6 of the first set a, b, and so on throughout the succession, each pair of rolls 6 delivering the wool or fibers to. the next succeeding traction roll a which has as seat a subjacent roll'5.

The rolls of the various endless belts have their shafts mounted in bearings 12 supported in side rails f, as shown in Fig. 6, and are driven in any suitable manner by a differential mechanism in such manner that each succeeding pair of belts is driven at a speed greater than the preceding pair of belts, this condition being indicated graphically by the lengthening arrows in Fig. 5, from which it can be seen that the arrows of the first pair of belts are longer than the arrows of the pair of belts c, 0, while the second pair of belts a, b have arrows longer thanthe first pair of belts a, b, and so on throughout the series, whereby an increasing belt speed gradient is produced in the direction of the discharge end of the machine.

Owing to this differential velocity, when the rolls 6 deliver fibers e to the next succeeding traction roll a theyproduce a traction of the fibers because of the greater spcedthanthespeed oftherolls 6, pulling the filaments which are detached from the portions located between the rolls 6. Since this traction is, as explained above, by fringes, the action on fibers e is alternating with respect to the fringes 10 and 11 as the positive and negative segments 8 and 9 present themselves.

In each traction roll a the positive segments and grooves are equal in number and have the same arc length, width and depth, but, as is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the segments 8 and grooves 9 of the first traction roll a are wider and deeper than those of the second traction roll a and, in turn, this second roll has wider and deeper segments and grooves than the third roll, and so on throughout the series. In this manner, the width and depth proportion of the segments and grooves forms a decreasing dimensional gradient toward the discharge end of the machine. The purpose of this arrangement is to enable the first rolls, with their greater depth and width of. grooves, to act on the entangled and balled-up material and to ensure that, the, dimensions of the g ooves of the succeeding traction rolls a are proportionate to the thickness of they fleece, of'wool or fibers e as such becomes reduced.

In operation, the conveyor d, conducts the entangled or balled-up wool or fibers, delivering them to the rolls 5 of the belts 6, C, so that between these belts the wool is conducted at a determined (minimum) speed. The action of the rolls 6 of belts c, c effects transfer of the fibers to the first set of belts a, b where, at greater speed, the tractionroll a in conjunction with roll 5, seizes the fleece of fibers in, a special manner since, as has been stated above and as is shown in Fig. 1, it grips the fringes 10, leaving the fringes, 11 free, and thus, due to the greater velocity, produces the pull or traction which causes portions of the fibers to become detached by plucking; and since, as said traction roll a rotates, the functions arev reversed as the elements 8 follow the grooves 9, the action alternates in pressing the fringes 11 and in leaving the fringes 10 free, so that portions of fibers are plucked and detached in a manner simulating manual opening and plucking but with the rapidity and precision of mechanized action.

After the fibers pass through the traction rolls a and 5 of the first set of belts a, b, they are conducted by these belts and delivered by the rolls 6 thereof to the second set of belts a, b. In the transition from the first set of belts a, b to the second, the rolls 6 deliver the Wool or fibers as a fleece to the traction roll a and roll 50f the next set of belts, again producing the effect of traction by alternate fringes as the positive segments 8 intervene succeeding the negative parts ofiered by the grooves 9; that is, as shown graphically-in Fig. 1, the pull occurs by fringes so that in the plucking there are detached the more advanced portions of those left behind.

In this way, by the transfer from one set of belts to the other, the fibers become separated; the fleece form being maintained, although it becomes lighter and lighter; and since the traction rolls a present smaller and smaller grooves 9 and segments 8 in the subsequent sets of belts as compared with the preceding ones, the separation of the fibers takes place according to an arrangement which, through this traction, results in the parallelization of the filaments, so that the veil obtained at the discharge end of the machine presents its fibers practically oriented in the direction of the belt circulation; and therefore this veil can be joined to form one or more roves of the type intended for spinning.

' Instead of 180-degrees, the arcs of the segments 8 and grooves 9 may, for example, be degrees or less each, provided-that each circumference is completed with the sum of the segments'and grooves of the respective plane. The foregoing is intended as illustrative and not as limitative since, within-the terms of theappended claims,

I claim:

1. A machine for conditioning wool and other fibers and filaments comprising a series of pairs of endless belts in linear arrangement, a set of rolls on which each belt is mounted for circulation therearound, the belts of each pair being disposed to provide a passage forfibers between parallel portions of the belts and the pairs of belts being disposed to provide a fiber-treating passage through the entire series of pairs of belts, means forcirculating each succeeding pair of belts around its rolls at a speed greater than that of the preceding pair of belts, and complementary annular ridge and groove means incorporated in a corresponding roll of each set of rolls of one belt of each pair fior opening and parallelizing the fibers as they are moved through the fiber-treating passage.

2. A machine for conditioning wool and other fibers and filaments comprising a series of pairs of endless belts in linear arrangement, a set of rolls on which each belt is mounted for circulation therearound, the belts of each pair being disposed to provide a message for fibers between parallel portions of the belts and the pairs of belts being disposed to provide a fiber-treating passage through the entire series of pairs of belts, means for circulating each succeeding pair of belts around its rolls at a speed greater than that of the preceding pair of belts, and means incorporated in a corresponding roll of each set of rolls of one belt of each pair for opening and parallelizing the fibers as they are moved through the fiber-treating passage, said last named means being in the form of segmental ridges and grooves alternately disposed along the length of the roll and complementing each other around the roll.

3. A machine for conditioning wool and other fibers and filaments comprising a series of pairs of endless belts in linear arrangement, a set of rolls on which each belt is mounted for circulation therearound, the belts of each pair being disposed to provide a passage for fibers between parallel portions of the belts and the pairs of belts being disposed to provide a fiber-treating passage through the entire series of pairs of belts, means for circulating each succeeding pair of belts around its rolls at a speed greater than that of the preceding pair of belts, and means incorporated in a corresponding roll of each set of rolls of one belt of each pair for opening and parallelizing the fibers as they are moved through the fiber-treating passage, said last named means being in the form ofsegmental ridges and grooves alternately disposed along the length of the roll and complementing each other around the roll,

and said segmental ridges and grooves being progressively smaller in each succeeding roll along the fiber-treating passage in the direction of movement of said fibers.

' 4. A machine for conditioning wool and other fibers and filaments comprising a series of pairs of endless belts in linear arrangement, a set of rolls on which each belt is mounted for circulation therearound, the belts of each pair being disposed to provide a passage for fibers between parallel portions of the, belts and the pairs of belts being disposed to provide a fiber-treating passage through the entire series of pairs of belts, means for circulating each succeeding pair of belts around its rolls at a speed greater than that of the preceding pair of belts, and means incorporated in a corresponding roll of each set of rolls of one belt of eachpair for opening and parallelizing the fibers as they are moved through the fiber-treating passage, said last named means being in the form of segmental ridges and grooves alternately disposed along the length of the roll and complementing each other around the roll, and

, said segmental ridges and grooves each having an arclength of approximately 180.

5. A machine for conditioning wool and other fibers and filaments comprising a series of pairs of endless belts in linear arrangement, a set of rolls on which each belt is mounted for circulation therearound, the belts of each pair being disposed to provide a passage for fibers between parallel portions of the belts and the pairs of belts being disposed'to provide a fiber-treating passage through the entire series 'of'pairs of belts, means for circulating each succeeding pair of belts around its rolls at a speed greater than that of the preceding pair of belts, and means incorporated in a corresponding roll of each set of rolls of one belt of each pair for opening and parallelizing the fibers as they are moved through the fiber-treating passage, said last named means being in the form of segmental ridges and grooves alternately disposed along the length of the roll and complementing each other around the roll, and said segmental ridges and grooves each having an arc length of approximately 6. A machine for conditioning wool and other fibers and filaments comprising a series of pairs of endless circulating each succeeding pair of belts around its rolls at a speed greater than that of the preceding pair of belts, and means incorporated in a corresponding roll of each set of rolls of onev belt of each pair for opening and parallelizing the fibers as they are moved through the fiber-treating passage, said last named means being in the form of segmental ridges and grooves alternately disposed along the length of the roll and complementing each other around the roll, the set of rolls for each belt being arranged to form the belt into a triangle and one of said rolls being driven by said first-named means.

7. A machine for conditioning wool and other fibers and filaments comprising a series of pairs of endless belts in linear arrangement, a set of rolls on which each belt is mounted for circulation therearound, the belts of each pair being disposed to provide a passage for fibers between parallel portions of the belts and the'pairs of belts being disposed to provide a fiber-treating passage through the entire series of pairs of belts, means for circulating each succeeding pair of belts around its rolls at a speed greater than that of the preceding pair of belts, and means incorporated in a corresponding roll of each set of rolls of one belt of each pair for opening and parallelizing the fibers as they are moved through the fiber-treating passage, said last named means being in the form of segmental ridges and grooves alternately disposed along the length of the roll and complementing each other around the roll, and one of theset of rolls for the other belt of each pair being of plain cylindrical resilient nature and disposed subjacent the segmented roll of the other belt of that same pair to form a seat therefor.

8. A machine for conditioning wool and other fibers and filaments comprising a series of pairs of endless belts in linear arrangement, a set of rolls on which each belt is mounted for circulation therearound, the belts of each pair being disposed to provide a passage for fibers between parallel portions of the belts and the pairs of belts being disposed to provide a fiber-treating passage through the entire series of pairs of belts, means for circulating each succeeding pair of belts around its rolls at a speed greater than that of the preceding pair of belts, and means incorporated in a corresponding roll of each set of rolls of one belt of each pair for opening and parallelizing the fibers as they are moved through the fiber-treating passage, said last named means being in the form of segmental ridges and grooves alternately disposed along the length of the roll and complementing each other around the roll, a similar pair of belts mounted around plain rolls and located forwardly of the said series of pairs of belts to provide a passage aligned with the fiber-treating passage through the said series and adapted to receive fibers to be conditioned from a conveyor and to deliver the same to the first pair of fibertreating belts.

9. In a machine for conditioningwool and otherfibers andfil'aments; a fiber-treating traction roll thesurface of which is provided with alternating segmental ridges and grooves along the length of the roll with the ridges and grooves complementing each other around the roll.

10. Ina machine for conditioning wool and other fibers andfilaments, a fiber-treating traction roll the surface of which is provided with alternating segmental ridges and grooves along the. length of the roll with the ridges and grooves complementing each other around 10 References Cited in the file of this-patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schlipp et a1. Sept. 16', 1941 Poovey Mar 8, 1955 Kern et a1. Apr. 5, 1955 

1. A MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING WOOL AND OTHER FIBERS AND FILAMENTS COMPRISING A SERIES OF PAIRS OF ENDLESS BELTS IN LINEAR ARRANGEMENT, A SET OF ROLLS ON WHICH EACH BELT IS MOUNTED FOR CIRCULATION THEREAROUND, THE BELTS OF EACH PAIR BEING DISPOSED TO PROVIDE A PASSAGE FOR FIBERS BETWEEN PARALLEL PORITONS OF THE BELTS AND THE PAIRS OF BELTS BEING DISPOSED TO PROVIDE A FIBER-TREATING PASSAGE THROUGH THE ENTIRE SERIES OF PAIRS OF BELTS, MEANS FOR CIRCULATING EACH SUCCEEDING PAIR OF BELTS AROUND ITS ROLLS AT A SPEED GREATER THAN THAT OF THE PRECEDING PAIR OF BELTS, AND COMPLE- 